If you’ve been living with chronic knee pain, you know the drill: physical therapy, injections, anti-inflammatory medications — and eventually, a conversation about knee replacement surgery. But what if there were a minimally invasive option that could give you significant, lasting relief without going under the knife?

Genicular Artery Embolization, or GAE, is doing exactly that for patients across the country. At Ozark Regional Vein and Artery Center, we’re proud to offer this breakthrough procedure to patients in Rogers, AR and throughout northwest Arkansas who are ready to move beyond pain management and get back to their lives.

What Is Genicular Artery Embolization?

Genicular Artery Embolization is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure performed by an interventional radiologist to reduce chronic knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis is far more common than most people realize. According to the CDC and the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance, osteoarthritis affects approximately 32.5 million adults in the United States — making it the most common form of arthritis in the country. More than half of people with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis are younger than 65.

Here’s the key insight behind GAE: in patients with knee osteoarthritis, the tissue lining the knee joint (the synovium) becomes inflamed and develops an abnormal network of small blood vessels. These vessels feed the inflammation — which feeds the pain. GAE works by reducing blood flow to these abnormal vessels, which calms the inflammation and relieves pain at its source.

The procedure is performed through a tiny incision, typically in the wrist or groin, using X-ray guidance. There’s no cutting into the knee itself.

How Does the GAE Procedure Work?

The procedure typically takes between one and two hours and is performed on an outpatient basis. Here’s what to expect:

Before the procedure: You’ll receive a thorough evaluation to confirm you’re a good candidate. This may include imaging of the knee and a review of your medical history.

During the procedure: Your interventional radiologist makes a small nick in the skin — usually at the wrist or upper thigh — and inserts a thin, flexible tube called a catheter. Using live X-ray imaging (fluoroscopy), the catheter is guided through your blood vessels to the arteries supplying the inflamed tissue around your knee. Tiny particles (called microspheres) are then delivered through the catheter to block blood flow to those specific vessels.

As described by UCLA Health’s Interventional Radiology team, the procedure is performed with moderate “twilight” sedation, meaning patients are comfortable throughout and able to go home the same day.

After the procedure: Most patients go home the same day. You may experience some mild soreness around the puncture site and temporary discomfort in the knee as it heals, but there’s no lengthy hospital stay and no general anesthesia is required.

Who Is a Candidate for GAE?

GAE is designed for patients who:

Have been diagnosed with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis
Have chronic knee pain lasting three months or longer
Have tried conservative treatments — such as physical therapy, medications, or cortisone injections — without sufficient relief
Are not yet ready for or are not good candidates for total knee replacement surgery
Want to avoid or delay surgery while still getting meaningful pain relief

It’s also an option worth exploring for patients who have had knee replacement surgery but continue to experience pain afterward.

GAE is generally not recommended for patients with severe, bone-on-bone arthritis, active knee infection, severe vascular disease, or certain kidney conditions. A consultation with our team will help determine whether the procedure is right for your specific situation.

What Results Can Patients Expect?

The clinical evidence behind GAE is growing, and the results are encouraging. A systematic review published in PubMed analyzing 23 studies involving 657 patients found GAE to be a promising option for knee OA pain, particularly for those unresponsive to conservative treatments or unsuitable for surgery — with technical success rates reaching 100% across most studies.

An earlier systematic review tracking patients over two years found average pain scores (measured on a 0–100 scale) fell from 66.5 at baseline to 14.0 at the two-year mark — a dramatic reduction that held up over time.

A more recent PubMed study examining 236 patients treated over four years found that GAE produced durable clinical improvement at one year, particularly in younger patients and those with mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis — reinforcing the case for earlier intervention.

The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) has formally recognized GAE in its research reporting standards, describing it as an emerging, minimally invasive therapy that targets the inflammatory cascade underlying osteoarthritis by blocking abnormal vessel growth — offering meaningful pain relief for patients who need more than injections but aren’t ready for surgery.

It’s important to understand that GAE is not a cure for osteoarthritis. It does not reverse cartilage loss or structural changes in the joint. What it does is address one of the primary drivers of pain — the abnormal vascular supply to inflamed tissue — which can result in substantial, lasting relief.

Most patients begin noticing improvement within two to six weeks as the inflammation subsides.

GAE vs. Other Knee Pain Treatments

How does GAE compare to the other options your doctor may have discussed?

Treatment	Invasiveness	Recovery	Pain Relief Duration
Anti-inflammatory medications	None	None	Short-term, ongoing
Cortisone injections	Minimal	Minimal	Weeks to months
Hyaluronic acid injections	Minimal	Minimal	Variable
Physical therapy	None	Ongoing	Variable
GAE	Minimally invasive	Days	12+ months in many cases
Partial/total knee replacement	Major surgery	Months	Long-term

GAE fits into the treatment pathway as a meaningful step between injections and surgery — one that many patients wish they had known about sooner.

Why Choose an Interventional Radiology Specialist for GAE?

GAE is performed by interventional radiologists — physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, image-guided procedures. This is not a surgical procedure. It does not involve cutting into the knee joint, and it does not require an orthopedic surgeon.

At Ozark Regional Vein and Artery Center, our interventional radiologists have specialized training in vascular and endovascular procedures. We use state-of-the-art imaging technology to guide the catheter with precision, targeting only the abnormal blood vessels responsible for your pain while leaving surrounding tissue unaffected.

This level of precision is what makes GAE both effective and safe.

What to Expect During Recovery

One of the biggest advantages of GAE over surgical options is the recovery experience:

Same-day discharge in most cases
Resume light activity within a day or two
Return to normal daily activities within one to two weeks for most patients
No general anesthesia, which reduces risks for older patients or those with certain health conditions
No knee immobilization or crutches required

You’ll have a follow-up appointment to assess your response and track your progress. Some patients have a single GAE treatment; others may benefit from a repeat procedure if symptoms return over time.

Is GAE Right for You?

If you have chronic knee pain, you’ve been told knee replacement is your only real option — or if you’re simply tired of managing pain that never fully goes away — GAE may be the path forward you’ve been looking for.

The best way to find out is a consultation with our team. We’ll review your imaging, discuss your history, and give you an honest assessment of whether GAE is likely to help in your specific case.

At Ozark Regional Vein and Artery Center, we specialize in minimally invasive vascular and interventional procedures that help patients feel better, move better, and live better — without unnecessary surgery.

Schedule a GAE Consultation

You don’t have to choose between living with chronic knee pain and undergoing major surgery. Genicular Artery Embolization offers a real alternative — and our team is here to help you understand your options.

Call us today or request an appointment online to schedule your GAE consultation at Ozark Regional Vein and Artery Center.

We serve patients throughout Rogers, AR and the surrounding communities across northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri.

This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider to determine whether GAE or any other procedure is appropriate for your individual condition.

Frequently Asked Questions About GAE

Is GAE covered by insurance?
Coverage varies by insurer and plan. Our team can help you verify your benefits and understand your options before scheduling the procedure.

How long does the procedure take?
Most GAE procedures are completed in one to two hours, and patients typically go home the same day.

Is GAE painful?
The procedure itself is performed under local anesthesia with sedation, so patients are comfortable throughout. Some soreness at the access site and mild knee discomfort in the days following are normal.

How is GAE different from a nerve block?
A nerve block temporarily interrupts pain signals. GAE addresses the underlying source of inflammation by reducing blood flow to abnormal vessels — making it a more targeted, longer-lasting approach for many patients.

Can GAE be repeated?
Yes. If symptoms return over time, the procedure can generally be repeated.

What if GAE doesn’t work for me?
GAE does not close any doors. If it doesn’t provide the relief you need, surgical options remain available. Many patients and their orthopedic surgeons view GAE as a valuable step to try before committing to joint replacement.

External Sources Referenced in This Article

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Chronic Knee Pain Without Surgery? GAE Could Be the Answer